Africa has no shortage of talent, ideas, or creative drive. What’s missing is the structure needed to help that creativity grow at scale. In his lead address, From Hustle to Infrastructure: The Blueprint for Africa’s Creative Economy, Steve Babaeko will explore why creativity cannot thrive on passion alone. Drawing from decades of experience building one of the continent’s most respected global creative agencies, he will break down the systems, support structures, and long-term thinking required to turn individual success stories into industry-wide progress. This address looks at the shift from surviving on grit to building environments where creative work can flourish sustainably.
Steve Babaeko’s perspective is rooted in real-world practice, offering creators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders a practical understanding of what it takes to build a functioning creative ecosystem. His address sets the tone for a necessary conversation about the future of Africa’s creative industries and what must change for true growth to happen.
The lead address will take place at NECLive 2025 on Friday, November 28, at 9:00 AM at Landmark Events Centre.
